Bug: Files and directories in the Android sandbox have insufficient permissions
asked 2013-12-24 22:32:44 +0200
This issue has already been reported on the Sailfish OS mailing list, but I also decided to add it here in case anyone was facing the same issue
This may not technically be a Sailfish OS issue as it is an issue with the Alien Dalvik software layer Jolla uses to provide Android compatibility, but I figured it was worth reporting it anyway.
I've noticed that when I download files using Firefox, or try to open, copy or in overall handle files using ES File Manager or other Android applications like game emulators, the actions often fail. However, after I changed the file and directory permissions to 777 using chmod, the files could be read, copied and moved around without any problems. Since I have to apply the file permissions every time I download a new file (eg. by downloading a file using Firefox or through FTP using ES File Manager's Remote Manager), it isn't a really good solution to the problem. All the files and directories in question are located in /data/sdcard (which isn't the SD card, but appears to be a sandboxed area of the internal storage used for Android apps).
Since this issue makes a lot of Android applications like ZIP managers and media players unusable, I don't think the Android sandbox is supposed to be this restricted.
Notice that the same problem persists when you move the files to the home directory and try to use them with a native application. It took me quite some time to figure out why one mp4 file could be played but another couldn't!
ottulo ( 2014-01-03 21:41:18 +0200 )editI have also this problem. My use case is: Sync a Keepass database with Dropbox using the Dropbox Android client. The file appears in /data/sdcard/Android/data/com.dropbox.android/files/scratch/notes.kdb. Now if I try to add new password entry with ownKeepass Sailfish application the database file cannot be written.
jobe-m ( 2014-02-07 22:07:50 +0200 )editsurprised this hasn't bothered more people? my use case: installed firefox android version, and when downloading files i can't even find them, since i suppose they go into /data/sdcard, but the Download directory has apparently too strict permissions so i am unable to view the content.
edgar ( 2014-05-19 15:30:25 +0200 )edit